Servicing device



May 5 1936. w. R. DUDLEY I 2,039,684

SERVICING DEVICE Original Filed July 8, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 May 5, 1936. w. R. DUDLEY SERVICING DEVICE Original Filed July 8, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 May 5, 1936. w. R. DUDLEY SERVICING DEVICE Original Filed July 8, 1932, 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 MNNV Patented May 5, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT- OFFICE 'William R. Dudley, Rockford, Ill.

ApplicationJuly s, 1932, Serial No. 621,341 Renewed April 8, 1936 6 Claims.

This invention relates to a servicing device for' gasoline stations and the like.

More specifically, this invention relates toa compact cabinet for servicing and display purposes which may be installed on pump islands commonly located between the driveways of gasoline stations.

The automobile servicing station proprietor frequently finds it desirable to carry in stock a line of motor vehicle accessories and parts in addition to the regulation stock of gasoline and oils. In some instances, a. line of foodstuffs, refreshments, and the like, is also carried. However, since the average motor vehicle driver sel- 1 dom gets out of his car when purchasing gasoline or oil and since these side lines of goods are displayed only within the station house, it follows that the average customer fails entirely to see such goods. As a result their sales are lowered and the profits of the proprietor are decreased.

1 have now devised a compact servicing cabinet in which the entire line of the gasoline station dealer is visibly displayed to the prospective customer from the interior of his motor vehicle.

My novel cabinet is especially adapted to be positioned 'on the pump islands in the driveways of the average gasoline station. The cabinet is so designed that it may dispense the several grades of gasoline normally sold by the dealer while utilizing only a minimum number of pumps. In addition, the cabinet is provided with refrigerating means for perishable goods, such as foodstuffs, pop, and the like, and also contains heated a compartments for storing some types of goods during 'cold weather seasons.

The preferred arrangement of my dispensing cabinet is readily rendered burglar-proof by locking means covering the sides of the cabinet. It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a servicing device or dispensing cabinet for installation in gasoline station driveways and the like in which all ofthe lines of merchandise being sold are visible to the occupants of-the 45 motor vehicle being serviced in the driveway of the station.

Another object of this invention is to provide a compact dispensing cabinet for installation on the pump islands of a gasoline station which dispenses the several grades and varieties of gas- 'oline carried by the dealer with a minimum num-- ber of pumps.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel display and dispensing cabinet for instal- 55 lation on the pump islands of gasoline stations to render this portion of the station the entire store for the dealer.

Another important object of this invention is to provide a dispensing and servicing cabinet for perishable goods and refreshments requiring re- 5 frigeration, staple materials and gasoline from thoroughly insulated and uniquely arranged compartments.

A specific object of this invention is to provide a device for displaying and dispensing the several lines of goods carried by a gasoline station dealer from a partof the station which is the most valuable from a sales standpoint.

Other and further important objects of this invention will be apparent from the disclosures in the specification and the accompanying drawings.

This invention (in a preferred form) is illustrated in the drawings and hereinafter more fully described. y

On the drawings 20 Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a dispensing cabinet and servicing device according to this invention, showing the various compartments and gasoline dispensing indicators of a 25 preferred form of this invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of a dispensing cabinet according to this invention showing three individual gasoline dispensing nozzles for serving three grades of gasoline and also showing the metal covers hooked in place for locking the cabinet.

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary cross sectional View taken substantially along the line III-III of Figure 2, showing partsin elevation.

Figure 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary, horizontal sectional view taken substantially along the line IVIV of Figure 3 and showing the piping hook-up in dotted lines. It should be noted that the pipes are actually located in the compartment above the section line IVIV of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along the line V-'-V of Figure 3.]

As shown on the drawings dicate double doors for heated compartments i3 located at each end of the cabinet.

As best shown in Figs. 3 to 5, the heated cabinets comprise electrically heated compartments l3 equipped with smaller compartments l4 and I5 for displaying oils and the like. Said compartments l4 and I5 are equipped with oil racks or shelves 9 and i1. The compartments l3 are heated by means of an electrically heated plate i9 (Figs. 3 and 5) located at the bottom of the compartment. The smaller compartments l4 and I5 within the compartments H are supported by the doors II and are provided with holes l9 and 29, respectively (Fig. 5), to permit the heat from the main. compartments |3 to circulate therein.

It is thus seen that by opening a glass paned door l2, access is gained into the oil rack compartments l4 and i5. By opening a door H, the smaller compartments l4 and i9 are swung open with the door and the main compartment I3 is exposed. This main compartment may be used for storage purposes and the like.

Since only the smaller compartments'are visible from the outside because of the pane of glass in the doors I2, materials stored in the main compartment l3 while maintained in a heated condition are not visible to the customer. It is apparent, of course, that two cabinets l4 are located on each side of the dispensing device while two cabinets ii are located on the opposite side. Only two main compartments l3, however, are furnished.

Obviously, the double door feature of this invention may be replaced by other systems for gaining entrance into the main compartments i3. For example, the back wall of smaller compartments I4 and I5 may be hinged. This arrangement would then only require a single outer door.

-If three grades of gasoline are to be dispensed. three pumps, 29, 2| and 22, are provided. Access to these pumps and to the storage places surrounding the pumps may be had by means of doors 23, 24, 25 and 29.

Each pump 29, 2| and 22 is connected with two meters, one located on each side of the cabinet, so that its face is clearly visible. The indicating mechanisms are set in compartments within the dispensing cabinet and are readily replaced or adjusted by disconnecting the driving mechanism and opening compartment doors 21, 28 and 29 in which the faces of the meters'are set. Similar indicator faces are set in doors 39, 3| and 32 in the opposite side of the dispensing cabinet. In this manner, indicating meters 33, 34, 35, 39, 31 and 39 of the highest degree of accuracy are mounted on hinged doors 21, 28, 29, 39, 3| and 32, respectively, of the dispensing cabinet. The pumps are energized by switches 9 in the; ends of the service (Fig. 2). Gasoline is dispensed from both ends of the cabinet through visible flow indicator devices 39, 49 and 4| into the usual flexible hoses 42, 43 and 44.

Each hose42, 43 and 44 is provided with a trigger nozzle 45 of the type commonly used in gasoline stations.

The nozzles 49 are retained in holders ,49 and 41. Each holder 49 and 41 is provided with three notches or compartments for receiving a nozzle. The nozzles may be locked into position by a simple locking arrangement of the holding device.

As shown in Fig. 4, gasoline from a single pump indicator 49 and dispensing hose 43. At the same time, or at different times, the gasoline may pass through pipes 49 and 48 through the meter 31 and into pipe 59 to the corresponding dispensing hose on the other end of the cabinet.

Gasoline from pump 29 flows through pipe line 9| through meter 39 and into pipe 52 to the dispensing hose on one end of the cabinet. The gasoline from tank 29 may also flow through pipe line 94, through meter 33 and then through 'pipe line 59 to the corresponding dispensing hose on the other end of the cabinet.

Gasoline from pump 22 may flow throughpipe line 59 into the branch pipe 91, through meter 39, into pipe 58 to the dispensing hose 42. Likewise, gasoline from pump 22 may flow through the pipe 59 into the meter 39 and through pipe 59 into the corresponding dispensing hose on the other side of the cabinet.

In thismanner, three pumps are suflicient to operate six dispensing hoses and the gasoline flows through meters having clock faces visible to the occupant of the car. Thus, if a motor vehicle is parked to the right of the dispensing cabinet, its gasoline tank will be at the end of the cabinet equipped with dispensing hoses rereceiving their supply through meters located on the car side of the cabinet. Likewise, a car parked on the other side of the cabinet will be serviced from the dispensing hoses on the other end of the cabinet and thus the meters are always visible to the occupants of the car being serviced.

In the center of the cabinet is a well insulated space 99 providedwith a refrigerating coil 9|. Access into this space may be had through doors 92 and 93 located on each side of the cabinet. Each of these doors is provided with two panes of glass 94 .and 94a spaced from each'other as shown in Fig. 5 to eflect thorough insulation. The walls of compartment 99 are lined with an in sulating material 9 9, such as cork or the like. The compartment 99 is preferably provided with shelves, such as 99 and 91 as shown in Fig. 3.

The refrigerated compartment 99 is separated from the heated compartments |3, H and I5 by means of dead air spaces in the cabinet in which spaces are'mounted the gasoline pumps 29, 2| and 22. These dead air spaces serving as pump compartments isolate the refrigerated compartment from the heated compartments and prevent any substantial heat transfer between these compartments.

. As best shown in Fig. 3, the refrigeration in compartment 99 is maintained by means of a compressor unit 98 driven by means of a suitable electric motor 99. The compressor unit is similar to the type normally used in electric refrigerator boxes.

The refrigerating coils 9| have a pipe line 19 wound around their exterior. Said pipe line 19 is connected with awater storage tank 1| (Fig.3) which furnishes water to drinking fountains 12 and 14 located on the ends of the cabinet. In Fig. 3, the cold water tank 1| is connected through a pipe line 13 to the drinking fountain 14; A

drain line I8 is provided to drain the drinking fountain 14. Similar pipe lines (not shown) are provided to supply the drinking fountain 12 on the other end of the cabinet with cold water from tank II and to drain the same.

Beneath each drinking fountain l2 and I4 is provided a valve operated connection I1 for a hose line or for filling a container to supply water to automobile radiators and the like. This connection 11 is supplied with water through a pipe line 18 (Fig. 3) which may receive a supply of hot water from a tank 18 equipped with an electrical heater 88 of the bayonet type (Fig. 3). Water at ordinary main temperature is supplied to the tank 18 through a pipe line 8|. A valve handle 82 extending into the pump compartment 28 is provided to control the flow of water into the heating tank 18.

The valve connection 11 on the drinking fountain 12 on the other side of the cabinet is supplied with hot water through the pipe line I8 extending into the compartment above the gasoline meters. It should be understood that the gasoline pipes from the meters to the hoses are also located in this compartment. By the water heating arrangement it is possible to supply automobile radiators with hot water during the cold season. A drain pipe 88 containing a .valve (not shown) is provided to drain the water system when not in use. 7

Surrounding the meter compartments 28 and 8| are provided compartments 85, 88, 81 and 88 (Fig. 4) which are closed from the exterior by means of hinged doors 88, 88, 8| and 82, respectively. Compartments 88 and 81 are each provided with a roll of wrapping paper 88 and 88, respectively. The inside of doors 88 and 8| are provided with holders 85 and 88 for paper bags.

Compartments 85 and 88 may be used for storing I staple goods, such as canned goods and the like. Beneath the center meters 84 and 81 is provided a board 88 (Fig. 1) which may be pulled out to serve as a counter for wrapping articles.

A top tier of compartments I88 and IN provided with glass doors serve as display counters for automobile accessories and other lines of staple goods. These display counters are provided with shelves I82 and I83. and preferably contain bottoms which are raised at the center so that goods 1 displayed therein will be visible. from both sides of the servicer.

A clock I85 may be positioned on the top of the servicer as shown. Sign boards |88 and I8! (Fig. 1) may likewise be provided on top of the servicer.

The ends of the servicer are provided with sign boards I88 and I88. Each of these sign boards may be illuminated by electric lights H8. Display cards or signs showing the prices of the various commodities may be readily inserted in these sign boards.

If desired, paper cup dispensers H and I I2 may be positioned on the ends of thecabinet. These dispensers are readily removable when the station is closed.

My servicing device is readily made burglarproof by means of several steel plates which are hooked over the sides of the device on hooks H3 and ill located near the top and bottom of the cabinet. The steel plates are locked to the servicer by inserting looks into hasps H5 integral with the servicer. Preferably, three steel plates are used to cover each side of the dispensing cabinet. The ends of the cabinet need not be covered since the only detachable device, namely the cup dis- "3 device is rendered burglar-proof by the setting in position of six steel plates 8 (Fig. 2) on the sides of the cabinet and by locking the nozzles in holders 48 and 41.

From the above description, is apparent that 5 .I have produced a novel and compact dispensing cabinet and servicing device whereby an entire store is produced right on the pump island in the ordinary gasoline station or along the roadside..

The articles sold are entirely protected from at 1 mospheric conditions, dust and the like, and the entire store is readily rendered burglar-proof without the necessity of moving any of the articles from the cabinet. The provision of twice the number of gasoline dispensing devices re-15 qulring' only the normal number of pumps is an added feature of my invention. Supplying cold water for drinking purposes in the summer time and hot water for radiators in the winter time has great sales appeal and will attract many cus- 20 tomers. Likewise, the provision of heated compartments for oils, greases, and the like, makes it possible to thoroughly drain the oil containers during the winter months and give the customer his full measured quantity. As is readily known 25 in the dispensing of oils during the cold season from bottled containers, a great deal of the oil is retained in the bottle because of its highly congealed condition. vThe positioning of the gasoline pumps along side of the heated compartment 3o prevents the contraction .of gasoline during the cold weather and thereby insures a uniform rate of delivery through the accurate indicating devices at all seasons of the year.

I am aware that many changes may be made 35 and numerous details of construction may be varied through a wide range without departing from the principles of this invention, and I, therefore, do not purpose limiting the patent granted hereon otherwise than necessitated by 40 the prior art.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a dispensing cabinet and servicing device for installation in gasoline stations and the like,

a plurality of compartments for storing and dis- 45 playing oils and greases, heating means in said compartments to maintain said oils and greases at the proper degree of viscosity. gasoline pump compartments adjacent said heated compartment and gasoline flow meters above said pumps 50 top of said cabinet and overlapping the tops of the pump casings and forming a common connection for said cabinet and said casings.

4. In combination, a pair of spaced dispensing pumpcasings, a cabinet embraced therebetween, a cover therefor overlapping the top of said cabinet to close it and overlapping the tops of the pump casings, and a'means including said casings embracing and supporting the endsof said cover.

5. In combination, a pair of spaced ing pump casings. means defining a dispensing cabinet embraced therebetween, and a cover overlying the top of said cabinet and overlying the top of said pump casings and connected 5 said cabinet and to said casings. I

6. An inverted U-sbaped structure comprising a pair of spaced vertically extendingpump casings connected at their tops by a hollow cover member, and a-cabinet positioned between said casings and in said structure, .and supported thereby. l

WILLIAM 12.0mm; 

